There are a series of factors that can help decide what stainless steel to use. Here are a few of them.

Corrosive Environment

The presence of water, acid, chloride and other chemicals affecting the environment in which the stainless steel will be used are important because they determine how corrosive that environment will be.

Temperature

High temperatures require a higher grade steel that can withstand the heat, while very low temperatures require an austenitic steel that can withstand the cold.

Strength

PH, martensitic, duplex and austenitic steel can provide strength, but aren’t always appropriate when welding and/or forming are going to be part of the process. See below…

Kind of Welding

PH and Martensitic grades usually won’t work for welding. Duplex steels are considered by many to be fully weldable. Austenitic is considered by many to be the most weldable steel.

Forming

Austenitic is considered to be the steel that is most “formable.” Ferritic steels are appropriate in some cases. However, PH, martensitic and duplex grades aren’t recommended for applications in which forming is necessary.

Bar, Tube or Sheet Form?

Some of the grades aren’t available in all sizes or forms. Austenitic is available in the largest range of options, while ferritic and martensitic aren’t.

What are Your Performance Expectations

Do you want durability? Aesthetics? What does the structure dictate?

Surface Finish

Steel is important, but in applications where aesthetics are important, surface finish can often override other factors.

Availability and Cost

Cost and availability are important. These are self-explanatory.

Call Us

At Western Stainless Solutions, we have a wealth of experience in helping choose the appropriate stainless steel for numerous different applications. Give us your project details and we can provide recommendations based on your specifications and requirements. We have access to virtually every grade of stainless steel in the industry. We know what is appropriate for most jobs.

We always provide full justification and reasoning for every choice. In addition, the ultimate choice is yours. If you have questions or want more information, call 1300 794 647 today.

Paul Bartlett is the owner and director of Western Stainless Solutions. He has a passionate commitment to personally seeing each project through from conception to completion. Mr Bartlett has owned Western Stainless Solutions since 2005. He had prior experience as a foreman for Caterlink, where he learned to fit out numerous restaurants with stainless steel equipment.

With Western Stainless Solutions, Mr Bartlett has overseen numerous large projects, always getting them finished on time and on budget. His favourite projects include:

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Joondalup Health Campus

Coles Inglewood

Woolworths Yanchep

Mt Barker Chicken

The Merrywell Bar

Perth Children's Hospital

St John of God Subiaco refurb and development

Mr Bartlett has extensive experience in completing large projects, but is always around to add a personal touch to projects such as restaurants and pubs.

Mr Bartlett also has experience in the sports world. He currently serves as a volunteer coach for School Sports WA and spent two years as the General Manager of the Stirling Senators in the State Basketball League.

The bottom line: Mr Bartlett specialises in getting things done. He has a “hands-on” approach that is rare for owners of businesses the size of Western Stainless Solutions.